Catch Report Week 19
Catch Report - Week 19 - Fly Fishing Report – Ladybower Fisheries
Another warm one unfortunately, although thankfully, not the scorching temperatures that we have had. The surface temperature still remains warm and trout remain deep in the majority.
Sinking lines have been required this week and when theres a light wind you can get down to the 20-30ft depth that the bulk of the fish are holding at. A short leader, no more than 10ft and 2 boobies is the method we'd recommend.
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Catch Report Week 18
Catch Report - Week 18 - Fly Fishing Report – Ladybower Fisheries
Its been a tricky week with the warm weather returning moving the fish around quite abit during the day and them feeding more in the cooler evenings or early morning.
Discover premium fishing tackle and equipment at SKB Fishing Gear. Shop quality rods, reels, flies, and accessories for all anglers visit: https://skbfish.co.uk/
Catch Report Week 17
Catch Report - Week 17 - Fly Fishing Report – Ladybower Fisheries
Another testing week unfortunately. That said only a few boats ventured out each day, maybe the football is on everyone's mind at the moment?
We did have a cooler week which gives hope that the Bower could switch back on any day now, the surface temperature has cooled off nicely and with the addition of 1000 home grown rainbows introduced on Wednesday things should get better soon.
Discover premium fishing tackle and equipment at SKB Fishing Gear. Shop quality rods, reels, flies, and accessories for all anglers visit: https://skbfish.co.uk/
Catch Report Week 16
Catch Report - Week 16 - Fly Fishing Report – Ladybower Fisheries
Well that was a warm week! With temperatures constantly around and mostly above the 30 degree mark there's no wonder the fishing slowed a little. As to be expected once the surface temperature crept up to and above 20 degrees the trout dropped deeper in search of more comfort.
Discover premium fishing tackle and equipment at SKB Fishing Gear. Shop quality rods, reels, flies, and accessories for all anglers visit: https://skbfish.co.uk/
Catch Report Week 15
Catch Report - Week 15 - Fly Fishing Report – Ladybower Fisheries
The summer has finally arrived. The weather was nicely settled (before the heatwaves right now!) and fish fish were up and having it!
This being backed up by a very healthy rod average of 10.
Discover premium fishing tackle and equipment at SKB Fishing Gear. Shop quality rods, reels, flies, and accessories for all anglers visit: https://skbfish.co.uk/
Catch Report Week 14
Catch Report - Week 14 - Fly Fishing Report – Ladybower Fisheries
Unfortunately the weathers not been too kind this week with it being rather wet and damp with constantly changing winds but anglers doing well once they found cover, Sunday was the best with temperature reaching mid 20s. The rains have slightly raised the water level again but fish still sitting in that 2-5ft range.
Discover premium fishing tackle and equipment at SKB Fishing Gear. Shop quality rods, reels, flies, and accessories for all anglers visit: https://skbfish.co.uk/
Catch Report Week 13
Catch Report - Week 13 - Fly Fishing Report – Ladybower Fisheries
Unfortunately the weather took a vice like grip on the past week with some rather out of character downpours for the time of year. This has held the water levels stable for a week or so but as we all know a lot of water coming in, in a short space of time is never nice for the fishing.
Discover premium fishing tackle and equipment at SKB Fishing Gear. Shop quality rods, reels, flies, and accessories for all anglers visit: https://skbfish.co.uk/
Catch Report Week 12
Catch Report - Week 12 - Fly Fishing Report – Ladybower Fisheries
Still a mega rod average had by you guys over the past week! Where the fishing took only a slight dip for a day or so in the extreme heat of the week before this last week its certainly recovered well
Fish still remained high in the water and now dries is pretty much the go to method for most from the off. Daddies, hoppers, cdc and all the other usual picks are good choices but it does pay well to have black or at least dark flies on your cast it seems.
Discover premium fishing tackle and equipment at SKB Fishing Gear. Shop quality rods, reels, flies, and accessories for all anglers visit: https://skbfish.co.uk/
Feature Week 11
Catch Report - Week 11 - Fly Fishing Feature – Ladybower Fisheries
“Yesterday at Ladybower was one for the books!
I started the day with a first-timer on the boat, and we tried everything—dries, washing lines, and even the bung. Midway through, I was 11 fish behind—Mark Buchan had raced ahead! But then we got a tip from Neil Davitt, who was up the Derwent arm, saying dries were on fire (thanks Neil) I clawed my way back, and we ended with a thrilling 20 to 19—39 fish to the boat! I had a battle with a Lump of a fish near the cages that gave me a runaround before I landed it. We finished casting to rising fish by the boat pontoon and Mark’s last cast got his 20th. An epic day—can’t wait to get back out there!
Discover premium fishing tackle and equipment at SKB Fishing Gear. Shop quality rods, reels, flies, and accessories for all anglers visit: https://skbfish.co.uk/
Catch Report Week 10
Catch Report - Week 10 - Fly Fishing Report – Ladybower Fisheries
The fishing just seems to be getting better and better at the moment with an incredible days sport to be had from the boats right now.
It is very weather dependant though, fish are often feeding in the spells of better weather and dodging the cold starts of late. That said, they continue to stay high in the water. A very similar story to last week where its better to go out fishing just sub surface with a washing line or pulling a glass line in the morning and then switching up to a full floater as the day warms up>
Discover premium fishing tackle and equipment at SKB Fishing Gear. Shop quality rods, reels, flies, and accessories for all anglers visit: https://skbfish.co.uk/
Catch Report Week 9
Catch Report - Week 9 - Fly Fishing Report – Ladybower Fisheries
Although the weather is still a bit chilly in the mornings, the afternoons in general have warmed up nicely and the fish certainly respond to this. It's often a bit of a sluggish start with fish holding 2-3ft down in the morning but as the afternoon warms they are kean to stick their noses up and often take right on the surface.
Discover premium fishing tackle and equipment at SKB Fishing Gear. Shop quality rods, reels, flies, and accessories for all anglers visit: https://skbfish.co.uk/
Catch Report Week 8
Catch Report - Week 8 - Fly Fishing Report – Ladybower Fisheries
Well, Ladybower is back at its very best with consistent top of the water sport being had! An outstanding rod average of over 8 is simply incredible numbers
Mornings are still taking a while to warm up as the fish sit a little deeper then around lunchtime and into the afternoon they are straight up having on or just under the surface.
Discover premium fishing tackle and equipment at SKB Fishing Gear. Shop quality rods, reels, flies, and accessories for all anglers visit: https://skbfish.co.uk/
Catch Report Week 7
Catch Report - Week 7 - Fly Fishing Report – Ladybower Fisheries
The Bower is currently in top form! 134 returns were submitted last week for a total of 1114 fish caught, staggering numbers!
Not that we needed to but we also stocked another 900 fish on Friday!
With the reservoir fishing so well you can pretty much pick fish up from most areas now. Also, this week we have had numerous reports that Rasberry bay has switched on finally fish in general have been tight to the banks up there.
Discover premium fishing tackle and equipment at SKB Fishing Gear. Shop quality rods, reels, flies, and accessories for all anglers visit: https://skbfish.co.uk/
Catch Report Week 6
Catch Report - Week 6 - Fly Fishing Report – Ladybower Fisheries
BEETLE BONANZA
The highlight of this week has, without doubt, been the epic fall of Heather beetle we have seen on the water, starting Tuesday afternoon and carrying on through the warmer spells in the week!
It's an incredible sight to see with large pods of fish feeding heavily together on them around the edges of the reservoir, where the beetles have been blown of the surrounding fields.
Discover premium fishing tackle and equipment at SKB Fishing Gear. Shop quality rods, reels, flies, and accessories for all anglers visit: https://skbfish.co.uk/
Catch Report Week 5
Catch Report - Week 5 - Fly Fishing Report – Ladybower Fisheries
What a difference a week makes! Mostly calm, mild days, well greeted by us all! The fish have certainly switched on to it as well. Flat calm mornings have seen fish rising all across the basin taking buzzers hatching off first thing.
Discover premium fishing tackle and equipment at SKB Fishing Gear. Shop quality rods, reels, flies, and accessories for all anglers visit: https://skbfish.co.uk/
Catch Report Week 4
Catch Report - Week 4 - Fly Fishing Report – Ladybower Fisheries
When conditions allowed a few boats did make their way out and found fish in the usual early season hot-spots. Tactics have had to be adopted to the situation on the day, with the higher winds, a fast glass and di3 have been useful from the boats. Bright snakes, damsel patterns, cats and black and green all popular choices still.
Discover premium fishing tackle and equipment at SKB Fishing Gear. Shop quality rods, reels, flies, and accessories for all anglers visit: https://skbfish.co.uk/
Catch Report Week 3
Catch Report - Week 3 - Fly Fishing Report – Ladybower Fisheries
Following on from a difficult week with non-committal conditions affecting catches, things turned around massively with anglers experiencing a much better return for their efforts. Fish still remain close to the margins, although a few are being picked up further out.
Tactics from the boats seemed to vary with intermediate and sink tip lines although fish were taken on suspender buzzers and even dries on occasion.
Discover premium fishing tackle and equipment at SKB Fishing Gear. Shop quality rods, reels, flies, and accessories for all anglers visit: https://skbfish.co.uk/
Catch Report Week 2
Catch Report - Week 2 - Fly Fishing Report – Ladybower Fisheries
Tactics for this time of year remained straightforward, although locating fish was particularly tricky. Fast glass and Di3 lines with larger patterns such as tadpoles, snakes, damsels, and Cat’s Whiskers continued to perform well. The bung also featured prominently, with success dependent on maintaining the correct depth; 3–6 feet proved an effective starting point.
Discover premium fishing tackle and equipment at SKB Fishing Gear. Shop quality rods, reels, flies, and accessories for all anglers visit: https://skbfish.co.uk/
Catch Report Week 1
Catch Report - Week 1 - Fly Fishing Report – Ladybower Fisheries
Firstly, we'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone that has visited Ladybower this week! It's been amazing to welcome to all back at the reservoir and the comments from you guys about the quality of fishing to be had at the moment makes all the hard work through those dreadful winter months all worthwhile.
Discover premium fishing tackle and equipment at SKB Fishing Gear. Shop quality rods, reels, flies, and accessories for all anglers visit: https://skbfish.co.uk/
Catch Report Open Weekend
Opening Weekend Fly Fishing Report – Ladybower Fisheries
Well what a start! A gloomy morning greeted us on Saturday but the mood around the car park and jetty certainly didn't match the weather. Anglers started arriving early, full of anticipation and excitement for the new season ahead, spirits were high and it was certainly great to greet all you guys back on to our fantastic water - up the Bower
Discover premium fishing tackle and equipment at SKB Fishing Gear. Shop quality rods, reels, flies, and accessories for all anglers visit: https://skbfish.co.uk/
Catch Report Week 37
Week 37 Fly Fishing Report – Ladybower Fisheries
This week has been all about the big fish! We are now getting water back in to the reservoir each day, that paired with the cooler water temperature seems to have stirred up the lumps for sure!
Monday saw the first double landed from the bank this week with the 12lb rainbow taking a liking to a squirmy worm fishing under the indicator.
Discover premium fishing tackle and equipment at SKB Fishing Gear. Shop quality rods, reels, flies, and accessories for all anglers visit: https://skbfish.co.uk/
Catch Report Week 36
Week 36 Fly Fishing Report – Ladybower Fisheries
A quieter week with regards to angler numbers, maybe the unsettled weather putting a few off from venturing out on the boats. We will be reducing the number of boats available shortly as we slowly bring them in for servicing through the winter. Make the most of them while they're still available!
Those that did fancy a go still had plenty of action. The bank still fishing really well along the roadside of the main basin all the way down from the viaduct to the old road.
Discover premium fishing tackle and equipment at SKB Fishing Gear. Shop quality rods, reels, flies, and accessories for all anglers visit: https://skbfish.co.uk/
Catch Report Week 35
Week 35 Fly Fishing Report – Ladybower Fisheries
Weather wise the week started off as per the previous week with nice calm days, fish rising as far as you could see and the buzzer hatches remained consistent. Then towards the back end of the week we were soon reminded it is the end of October and had showers paired up with relatively high winds. That said, Ladybower is looking pretty special right now in its autumnal colours.
Discover premium fishing tackle and equipment at SKB Fishing Gear. Shop quality rods, reels, flies, and accessories for all anglers visit: https://skbfish.co.uk/
Catch Report Week 34
Week 34 Fly Fishing Report – Ladybower Fisheries
Flat calm conditions for most of the week has seen excellent top of the water sport! Last week, most mornings, we have had really good buzzers hatches and fish are certainly switched on to them, free rising across the whole reservoir!
It's also evident the the fish are coming really close in to the banks. Bank anglers are enjoying sport just as much as the boats now and consistent sport can be found all down the road side bank of the main basin or pickles and grainfoot should you choose to venture up the Derwent arm.
Discover premium fishing tackle and equipment at SKB Fishing Gear. Shop quality rods, reels, flies, and accessories for all anglers visit: https://skbfish.co.uk/
Catch Report Week 33
Week 33 Fly Fishing Report – Ladybower Fisheries
With October now well and truly upon us, the water temperature at the magical 14 degrees and black buzzer hatches coming off daily, this week has seen Ladybower hit back to its impressive form.
Not that the reservoir needed it but the introduction of 1,200 rainbows on Wednesday certainly stirred up the residents and top of the water sport has once again been incredible.
Discover premium fishing tackle and equipment at SKB Fishing Gear. Shop quality rods, reels, flies, and accessories for all anglers visit: https://skbfish.co.uk/
Catch Report Week 32
Week 32 Fly Fishing Report – Ladybower Fisheries
Nearly a week without rain! Last week was about as settled as we could hope for heading into October, with mild, calm days right through until Friday. Then Friday arrived with a bang — high winds and heavy rain put an end to boat fishing over the weekend.
That said, the early part of the week fished really well. Flat, calm conditions and unseasonably warm temperatures brought some great hatches, and the trout responded in kind. Greenfly and small black buzzers were the dominant hatches, with fish rising freely to them!
Discover premium fishing tackle and equipment at SKB Fishing Gear. Shop quality rods, reels, flies, and accessories for all anglers visit: https://skbfish.co.uk/
Catch Report Week 31
Week 31 Fly Fishing Report – Ladybower Fisheries
We were glad to see a more settled spell of weather last week, with water levels starting to drop slightly again — which really helps the fishing!
Temperatures have now held steady at a constant 14°C, ideal for this time of year, and the clarity is improving day by day. The pH has also levelled off and, towards the back end of the week, we began to see small buzzers coming off — something we hadn’t seen the previous week.
Discover premium fishing tackle and equipment at SKB Fishing Gear. Shop quality rods, reels, flies, and accessories for all anglers visit: https://skbfish.co.uk/
Catch Report Week 30
Week 30 Fly Fishing Report – Ladybower Fisheries
Wet, wet, wet! Most days saw heavy downpours, which resulted in the water levels rising almost immediately. By the time the weekend arrived, we had seen at least 8ft of water back in the reservoir.
This fresh water, as anticipated, was much cooler, had a low pH (acidic), and brought with it some colour.
Discover premium fishing tackle and equipment at SKB Fishing Gear. Shop quality rods, reels, flies, and accessories for all anglers visit: https://skbfish.co.uk/
Catch Report Week 29
Week 29 Fly Fishing Report – Ladybower Fisheries
September has well and truly arrived this week with a mixture of weather. The week started off settled and turned to more rain towards the back end. The water level has been the main topic of conversation throughout the season. We can now say we have maintained the same level for a good period and, in fact, have seen some fresh water introduced into the reservoir of late.
Discover premium fishing tackle and equipment at SKB Fishing Gear. Shop quality rods, reels, flies, and accessories for all anglers visit: https://skbfish.co.uk/
Catch Report Week 28
Week 28 Fly Fishing Report – Ladybower Fisheries
Rain, rain and a bit more rain was the story last week! Although by the back end of the week it gradually turned out nice, with the weekend especially being pleasant.
The rain certainly seemed to freshen things up as it breaks up the water’s surface and increases the oxygen levels in the water. We noticed that as it was raining it seemed to put the fish off feeding right on the surface — understandably! But as it stopped raining and the weather turned nice afterwards, the trout were right back on the surface and in abundance
With that said, it’s understandable that dry fly has still been the main choice of tactics. Hoppers, sedges, shuttlecocks, Shipman’s and the ever-popular foam daddy all remain consistent.
Discover premium fishing tackle and equipment at SKB Fishing Gear. Shop quality rods, reels, flies, and accessories for all anglers visit: https://skbfish.co.uk/

